Asteroid mining could be 2013's hot new industry with yet another company making some serious claims about its plans for tapping resources in space.

According to The Verge, Deep Space Industries is claiming that it will have unmanned spacecraft — known as the FireFly, of course — in space looking for viable mining asteroids by 2015, with the heavier DragonFly craft bringing back samples soon after.

Deep Space Industries — known as DSi, so we assume a Nintendo lawsuit is on the cards — is also claiming a patent pending "Microgravity Foundry" — a 3D printing system that uses nickel-charged gas to print metal components in a zero gravity environment.

It's worth noting that, unlike the similar company Planetary Resources, Deep Space Industries doesn't have any high-profile backers such as Larry Page or James Cameron. In fact, DSi will probably require sponsorship and public funding for its missions.

Still, we live in a time where multiple initiatives for space mining on asteroids are underway. For our money, that's much better than a flying car.